| Tharlo | |
| Director: | Pema Tseden |
| Producer: | Wu Leilei Wang Xuebo Zhang Xianmin[1] |
| Starring: | Shide Nyima |
| Cinematography: | Lu Songye |
| Music: | Wang Jue |
| Editing: | Song Bing |
| Distributor: | Beijing Herui FilmIcarus Films |
| Production Companies: | Heaven Pictures (Beijing) Culture & Media Co., Ltd. Beijing YiHe Star Film Production Ltd. Beijing Ocean & Time Culture Communication Co, Ltd |
| Country: | China |
| Language: | Tibetan |
| Runtime: | 123 minutes |
Tharlo (Chinese: 塔洛) is a 2015 Chinese Tibetan-language comedy-drama film written and directed by Pema Tseden.[2] It premiered in the Horizons section at the 72nd edition of the Venice Film Festival.[3] It was released in China on December 9, 2016, and on DVD by Icarus Films on February 14, 2017.[4]
Sheep herder Tharlo (Shide Nyima), commonly known as "Ponytail" for his trademark hairstyle, goes to town to get an ID card photo as ordered by police chief Dorje (Tashi). Having lived all his life alone in the mountains, he is shocked to meet a modern young hairdresser Yangtso (Yang Shik Tso), who not only sports short hair but smokes. Yangtso flirts and even suggests travelling with him. He gets drunk at a karaoke bar and ends up spending the night at her home.
Tharlo returns to the mountains but not for long. One day, he gets drunk again and a number of the sheep he tends are killed by wolves, which angers the sheep owner, who scolds and slaps him repeatedly. Soon, Tharlo returns to town with a large stack of cash from selling the sheep, places the money in front of Yangtso, and tells her to keep it. She asks to shave his head so that he won't be recognized and he agrees. But his desire for a new life with her is dashed when he wakes up the next morning to find her missing.
After failing to find her, Tharlo calls on chief Dorje at the police station. However, before he can reveal the purpose of his visit, the chief orders him to go to town again and get another ID card photo because the bald Tharlo looks different from his new ID card photo. Speechless, Tharlo walks out of the police station and heads back into the mountains. After his motorbike runs out of gas, he begins drinking again, then lights a firecracker in his hand. Just before it explodes, the screen goes black.[5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
The film grossed at the Chinese box office.[4]
| Date | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Venice Horizons Award | Tharlo | |||
| Pema Tseden | |||||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Tharlo | ||||
| Grand Prize | |||||
| Student Jury Prize | [10] | ||||
| 2016 | Artistic Exploration Award | ||||
| Best Picture | |||||
| Best Director | Pema Tseden | ||||
| 2017 | Best Film | Tharlo | [11] | ||
| Best Director | Pema Tseden | ||||
| Best Actor | Shide Nyima | ||||
| Best Screenplay | Pema Tseden | ||||
| Best New Performer | Shide Nyima | ||||
| Best Low Budget Feature | Tharlo | [12] [13] | |||
| Best Cinematography | Lu Yesong | ||||
| Best Editing | Liang Chi-song, Song Bing |